Junior Demonstrator Briefing

Lewys Jones4th Year JCCG Rep.

8th Jan 2013

Overview• Important people• Undergraduate degree structure• Undergraduate labs in Materials Science

– Purpose,– Schedules,– Groupings,– Topics.

• The role of the Senior Demonstrator• The role of the Junior Demonstrator

– What it is,– What it isn’t.

• Possible UG lab scenarios• Discussion time

Important People

• Dr Keyna O'Reilly – Practical Class Coordinator

• Paula Topping – Practical Class Technician

• Senior Demonstrators

• The Students (≈30 each year)

• Other Junior Demonstrators

• Paul Warren – Departmental IT

Undergraduate Degree StructureYear Module Assessment

1

MS1 – Structure of Materials

Written Summer ‘Prelims’ Exams400 / 500 marks

MS2 – Properties of Materials

MS3 – Transforming Materials

MMES - Maths for Materials and Earth Scientists

Practical Labs Written assessment of lab reports50 / 500 marks

Crystallography Classes Written assessment during classes50 / 500marks

2

GP1 - Structure and Transformation of Materials

Written Summer ‘Finals’ Exams at end of 3rd year400 / 1200 marks

GP2 - Electronic Properties of Materials

GP3 - Mechanical Properties of Materials

GP4 - Engineering Applications of Materials

Practical Labs Written assessment of lab reports60 / 1200 marks

Industrial Visits, Business Module Written assessment of reports40 / 1200 marks

3

OP1 – Materials Options Paper 1 Written Summer ‘Finals’ Exams at end of 3rd year200 / 1200 marksOP2 – Materials Options Paper 2

Team Design Project Written assessment of reports50 / 1200 marks

Characterisation / Modelling Module Written assessment of reports50 / 1200 marks

4 Masters (Part II) Project Written assessment of thesis400 / 1200 marks

The Purpose of UG Labs

• Labs provide essential training in practical scientific skills, conducting work independently from written instructions and report writing,

• Labs support the academic lecture course series throughout the year,

• Labs are EXAMINED coursework towards either Preliminary of Final exams.

UG Labs Schedule

• First year UGs:– Thursday & Friday 14:00 – 17:00 alternate weeks (MT & HT)*

*Excluding some introductory labs in MTwk1 & MTwk2.

– PLUS two afternoons (assorted days) in the first half of TT.

• Second year UGs:– Monday – Wednesday afternoons alternate weeks

• Labs may not happen in the same order as the lectures / or in the same order as previous years.

UG Lab Groups

• Students work in groups of two or three,

• Generally grouped by college but not always,

• Designed to encourage and teach teamwork,

• Will undoubtedly include a mixture of abilities, personalities, approaches, genders.

UG Lab Topics – Year 1

• Practical 1P1a Computing• Practical 1P1b Microscopy• Practical 1P2 Young's Modulus and Stress Analysis• Practical 1P3 Electrode Potentials• Practical 1P4 Energy Levels and Band Gaps• Practical 1P5 Bubble Raft • Practical 1P6 Thermal Analysis • Practical 1P7 Fabrication and Tensile Testing • Practical 1P8 Metallography • Practical 1P9 Polymers - Molecular weight effects • Practical 1P10 Fracture and Laue

http://www.materials.ox.ac.uk/teaching/ug/ugpracticals.html

UG Lab Topics – Year 2

• Practical 2P1 Diffusion• Practical 2P2 Dislocations and Plasticity • Practical 2P3 Casting• Practical 2P4 Introduction to AFM Analysis• Practical 2P5 SEM and Fracture • Practical 2P6 Extrusion • Practical 2P7 Corrosion • Practical 2P8 Transmission Electron Microscopy • Practical 2P9 Steels • Practical 2P10 Materials Selection • Practical 2P11 Mechanical properties of polymers • Practical 2P12 Semiconductor Deviceshttp://www.materials.ox.ac.uk/teaching/ug/ugpracticals.html

The Role of the Senior Demonstrator

• To write lab handout for the students to follow,

• To introduce and explain the relevance of the lab,

• To tell the students they key deliverables they are looking for,

• To instruct the JDs if there are special themes they want highlighted by the students,

• To read and mark the written reports.

The Role of the Junior Demonstrator is...

• To familiarise themselves with the practical and the equipment in advance of the lab session,

• To oversee delivering the SDs requirements,

• To assist students with experimental equipment,

• To answer reasonable questions from students,

• To assist the PCT in encouraging safe, respectful and professional behaviour in the labs,

• To assist the PCT in concluding the labs in a timely fashion,

• To develop themselves in their communication and teaching skills.

The Role of the Junior Demonstrator is not...

• To give students the ‘answers’ to the lab,

• To do any work for the students or tell the students how to approach the tasks,

• To tell them if they’ve gotten something ‘right’,

• To earn some quick money by baby-sitting a group of young-adults / to catch-up on reading.

Possible UG Lab Scenarios (1)

• One person in a group is doing no work,

• One person in a group is doing all the work,

• You see someone copying / cheating,

• A student doesn’t understand the handout’s instructions,

• You think a student / group are rushing their work just to leave early,

Possible UG Lab Scenarios (2)• Several groups in the lab all need help at the same time,

• A student asks “What’s the point of labs, they’re only worth 5% anyway”,

• A student is in the IT room completing lecture course tute-work for a deadline,

• A student leaves the lab unannounced to go smoke / to the vending machines,

• A student is checking emails / listening to music / playing with a smart-phone in the lab,

Discussion Time

Keyna O’Reilly – Practical Class Organiser

…some additional comments on Admin and Safety for JDs new to the

Teaching Labs / Practical Class

Admin

● practicals are COMPULSORY

● they constitute “examinable coursework”

Please prompt students to sign in as they arrive.

If you notice that a student has failed to turn up for their practical on any of the required afternoons, please inform Paula.

Likewise if you notice someone sneaking off early.

Safety in the Teaching Labs

● everyone’s safety is our highest priority

● every effort has been made to make the labs safe

● a chemicals technician is on hand to help with any etching etc

● if you think some aspect of the practical is unsafe speak to the SD or Paula immediately

● it is the SDs responsibility to train you in the particular aspects of the practical – though Paula will assist

- please chase SDs for assistance if necessary

Safety in the Teaching Labs

● if you see anyone breaking the rules, either speak directly to them about it or inform Paula

● some DOs and DON’Ts that the students have been told they must follow, taken from the Handbook

The DOs

DO pay attention to the PCT and demonstratorsDO read and follow safety instructionsDO familiarise yourself with fire escape routesDO keep fire doors closed and escape routes clearDO wear appropriate eye and hand protectionDO wash hands after working with chemicalsDO work in a fume cupboard with etchants and solvantsDO use minimum quantities of flammable liquidsDO keep the labs clean

…and the DON’Ts

DON’T eat, drink or put on make-up in the labsDON’T use your mobile phoneDON’T mouth-pippette or lick things

- this includes sucking your pen!

● and a couple of my own, not in the Handbook

DON’T mess around- if you do, you’ll be thrown out

DON’T wear inappropriate clothing and shoes- e.g. sandals, short skirts, long scarves- you’ll be asked to modify your dress or leave

and finally…

● if in doubt about anything- just ASK